Forums » Sci-Fi Roleplay » Travellers (Semi-Open RP between Tara and Catrin)

The AI sounded amused by the question, "I expect organics to have less intelligence than most AIs, simply because AIs have much greater processing power, processing seed, memory and various other faculties. My own intelligence, as graded by the Senate, it at least three tiers above your average organic sapient. I do not wish to sound arrogant, but it is fact. Nevertheless, I do expect Tara to get overenthusiastic and not take the proper time to consider the ramifications of her actions. Landing on Xi'Teleath, for example, would at best cause diplomatic incident, and at worst an interstellar war."

Tara smiled slightly, "Thank you for the overestimation of my abilities, but I think causing an interstellar conflict is a bit beyond my means."

"I have learned over the centuries, Mistress, that when it comes to getting into trouble, nothing is beyond your capabilities." The AI responded,

Catrin had to focus on holding up giggling throughout the AI's speech and ended up bursting into laughter when it responded Tara. It was a short one, though, and when she had calmed down, she cleared her throat. “Ahem. Never mind.”

Intelligence had always been vastly overrated, or at least its real-world use, but Catrin wasn't going to bring that up with the AI, at least not now.

She opened her eyes and turned to look at Tara. “You know, I think I might actually be able to save us in case something terrible starts happening, but it wouldn't be very inconspicuous. Is there a relatively safe place from which you could start? I mean, it's not like not landing on Xi'Teleath will get you any information, right? Or is there some sort of information-distribution system that reaches into their orbit, but isn't available elsewhere?”

Tara smiled, "Since aliens are forbidden from setting foot on Xi'Teleath's surface, or at least what passes for a surface on that planet, there are numerous orbital habitats and stations to cater for alien visitors to the Twin Worlds, and whilst most of these are linked to Xi'Teleat's planetary information network, and therefore to the Imperial Libraries, I've often found that reading a physical book often gives me a greater insight than a virtual copy, not to mention the fact that there will be some books and artefacts not available on the network anyway."

"Don't encourage her!" The AI said, "Please Miss Catrin, there are standing laws in the Imperium that any alien that dared set foot on Xi'Teleath is to be executed. It is simply too dangerous."

“Oh,” replied Catrin, quite fascinated. “So, how did you actually manage to land there before in the first place, and survive the incident?”

Tara laughed, "Oh! I never landed! By the Younger Gods, if I had I'd be the envy of every academic this side of the galactic core. I'd also be in a whole heap of trouble."

"Indeed." The AI said, "The Xin'Ta'Faxi would have your head."

"Of course, technically if I was sanctified by a priest I could land... the wording of the old laws doesn't specifically forbid aliens." Tara mused.

"Even if you were blessed by the Archniath himself, I doubt you'd be allowed. I don't think anyone would accept your interpretation of the laws... besides, it's bad enough you're an alien, but you are also an alien female and you know how the Xin'Ta'Faxi feel about women."

Tara nodded, "Yes, well... it's all academic at this point. I'll never set foot on that planet."

“Hm. OK, then. Putting your life in danger in order to get a bunch of propaganda from which you might be able to obtain some grains of truth does seem to be a little too over the top. What's your next option? Perhaps you'd like to gain some more reliable information?”

Tara thought for a moment, "Well, there's the Senate Archives on Cosmopolis, they have information on all the species and nations of the Known Galaxy, then there's the Royal Archives on Aerin, homeworld of my species. Since we, along with the Gillorians and Isthenir, were the first species to gain interstellar travel after the Atlanteans vanished, we have information gathered on all the species and nations that have appeared over the past twelve thousand years, all of the ones in Senate Space and some from regions far beyond it, whee only my people have travelled."

"We could also go right to the source and go to the planet Alexandria, the Sithrimni library-world, or Xaz'Mathiadu, their largest population center, and get information there." The AI said, "However, we have plenty of time for figuring out our next move, since it'll take us a week to get to the nearest Jumpgate and a little longer to get anywhere else."

Catrin smiled. “I've neglected that part again, probably due to your drama-filled conversations,” she teased and winked at Tara, then turned to a wall. “It sounded almost like Tara's life was in imminent danger.”

"He thinks it always is." Tara said, pointing over to a wall.

"And she doesn't take danger seriously enough." The AI said, "In any case, the ship has been constantly accelerating since we left the gas giant, we should be able to make an FTL jump soon. I assume that you will want to watch, Miss Catrin?"

Catrin beamed at the wall. “Of course! That should be interesting! What can I expect?”

"It isn't too dramatic." Tara said, "Terelain FTL engines use a large amount of mana energy to tear open a small tear in the fabric of space/time, allowing us to enter a realm beyond third-dimensional space/time, not exactly hyperspace or subspace like conventional drives, but similar in that it allows us to ignore the laws of physics. The tear will be a large section of space in front of the ship that will glow blue, it will then distort as space/time bends around it and we will enter the distortion."

"We will spend approximately a week inside this other realm travelling faster than the speed of light, then, once we reach the gravity well of our target system, we will emerge back into realspace." The AI said.

“That's fascinating,” Catrin began, a little pensive, “but won't being able to ignore the laws of physics have some effects inside the ship, too? You know, like hearing voices, seeing things?”

Tara shrugged, "Well I assume the ship's protected against that sort of thing."

"Indeed. I won't bore you with the details, but suffice it to say that the Terelain Race has been a star-faring culture longer than any other and that with such age comes experience and highly complex magitechnological methods of violating the laws of physics without undue harm coming to the occupants of their ships." The AI said, "Ah, we're nearing the edge of the gravity well. I shall begin the jump preparation sequence."

"Good." Tara sad, "How long until the jump?"

"It will take only a few minutes for the jump drive to reach a sufficient level of charge." The AI replied.

Catrin nodded. “Of course. I suppose if there was no protection, weird sensory input would be the least of all the worries the passengers would suddenly have.” If no-one else had anything to say for the moment, Catrin waited silently for the jump to take place, wondering what it'll feel like.

After a few short minutes, the AI said, "Jump drive is charged and standing by. Shielding systems are online and at one hundred percent, sensors indicate that jump zone is safe and free of impeding objects. Gravitational stress is projected at 0.000721%, all non-essential subsystems have been shut down. Initiating jump protocols on your command." The AI said, in an almost militaristic tone, obviously his former life as a military-grade AI had left a few remnants in his behavioral subroutines.

"Initiate jump sequence." Tara said with a slightly bemused smile. "Activate the forward cameras and display the view on the wall."

Part of the wall shimmered into a view of space in front of the craft, the AI said, "Displaying. Activating jump drive."

As they watched, the void in front of them gained a slightly bluish-tinge, the blueness grew more pronounced and grew brighter until it blotted out the stars, the blue region began rippling and shimmering, like the distortions in air that you sometimes saw on very hot days. A bluish-white point appeared in the middle of he distortion which grew rapidly until there was a circle of white-blue in the middle of the ripples, it expanded to fill the whole view and then suddenly there was a flash and the screen went dead.

"We have entered the Aether, re-calibrating visual sensors." The AI said.

A moment later, the screen switched back on, showing a tumultuous, chaotic, seething mass of colours and half-seen shapes, it was like mist but thicker and filled with a thousand colours. Some of the half-seen shapes almost seemed to make sense but they dissipated before the brain could register more than a fleeting glimpse.

"Shields are holding, system are operating at 98.27% efficiency, power level stable." The AI said, "Estimated arrival time to destination is six standard days, plus or minus three hours forty six minutes, standard."

Tara smiled, "Good... what do you think Catrin?" She looked towards the other woman as she asked the question.

Catrin looked back at Tara and smiled. “I'm not sure. It was quite impressive, in a way, but I feel weird about being somewhere and not knowing where.”

She looked nauseous for a moment as a new thought occurred to her, but she chose not to reveal it. No need to frighten everyone. Her presence could affect universes, and if this one would be sensitive to her, there was no telling where they'd end up. Well, hopefully everything will be OK and Tara will probably take her recent facial expression as a sign that she's taking the current view badly.

Tara smiled kindly, "Aetheric space, as well as Hyperspace and Subspace, have that kind of effect on people the first time around. Deactivate the display."

The hologram flickered out of existence at her command.

"Mistress, I think it is about time you went to sleep. You will have to start readjusting to ship-time, and that nap you had thanks to the invoking that oath hasn't helped matters." The AI said.

"Hmph, sometimes I wonder if you think you're my husband or my father." Tara said.

"Never anything so improper, Mistress." The AI said mildly, "I'm simply looking out for your best interests. Besides, I am sure Miss Catrin wishes to access the on-board archives so she can learn some more about our universe."

Hm. She actually did feel a little better with the display off. She smiled back at Tara. “Thank you.”

Catrin looked at a wall and nodded. “Yes, I did want to look something up, but of course, if you're not feeling like sleeping yet,” she looked back at Tara, “it can wait.”

Tara sighed and shook her head, "I'll do as he says; he'll nag otherwise, and... well, he's right. I have to readjust."

"I'll make some tea and something to help you sleep and have it waiting for you, Mistress." The AI said.

She smiled slightly, "Don't try and get around me."

The AI didn't bother responding as she left the room, once she was gone he said, "I'll activate a holo-display, you can use that to browse the ship's databanks. Instantly, a holographic keyboard, screen and numerous symbols appeared, floating in midair in the middle of the room, "I suggest using the next few days wisely; read up on what you can. The galaxy's history is long and tangled, and you would do well to understand this if you hope to survive out there."

Catrin smiled at Tara as she was leaving, but didn't say anything, mimicking Tara in this. She nodded at the AI. “Thank you.” She got up to walk to the keyboard, and frowned a little when the AI made his suggestion, slightly irritated. “Are you exaggerating? Surely at this point, there's no need to have an extensive knowledge of history that would be significantly broader than the knowledge of whatever cover identity I end up taking up.”

She paused for a moment, then continued. “I'm not really used to being given suggestions, especially not without all the relevant data that would explain how the suggester arrived at his conclusions. It's irritating, in a way, to be condescended to. Surely you can stick to less dramatic, and assuming, forms of passing me information? Right now, all that was useful was the bit about the galactic history being tangled and long – but then again, that seems quite obvious – and I have no idea why you're suggesting that I use my time wisely – will there be no more opportunities to use databases later on? And the 'if you hope to survive out there' bit seemed like pure drama with no information value.”

She walked up to the floating keyboard. “Any chance of anything to sit on while working?”